Vehicle



l.. M. C. FALKE AND T. H. IVI. SALCE.

vEHlcLL APPLICATION FILEDIAPK. 14, 1920. 1,407,648, Patented FGI). 2L 1922-.

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J. M. C. FALKE AND T. H. IVI. SALCE.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION` FILED APR. 14.-1920.

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Patented mi. 21, 1922.

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JEAN MARIE CONSTANT FALKE, OF PARS, AND THPHILE HENRI MAXIMIN SALCE,

i 0F LYON, FRANCE.

VEHICLE.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

PatentedV Feb. 21, 1922.

Application led April 14, 1920. Serial No. 373,799.

T0 all whom t 'may concern:

Beit known that. we', JEAN MARinCoN- s'rANT F ALKE and THoPFiLr. Emmi Maxi- MIN SALCE, citizens of the Republic of France, residing, respectively, at 11 Rue Simon Dereure, Paris, France, and '34 Rue Bugeaud,l Lyon, Rhone, France, have'invented new and useful Improvements in Ve hicles, of which the iollowing is a specifiction. l

Thisl invention relates to light manually propelled vehicle having the elongated form of and propelled in the manner of a racing skiif said vehicle is mounted on four wheels, of which those arrangedl at the "front are steering wheels and are worked by the feet by means of a suitable device. @ne of the rear wheels is a driving wheel and is worked be returned to its normal position when the pull thereon is released, to bring the handles into position for the next operation.

This device is'preferably combined with a sliding or rolling seat for the rider` adapted to move longitudinally on the chassis and a foot rest suitablylocated at the front part of the chassis so that the propulsion of` the vehicle may be eiiected by Va motion of the arms and legs similar to .that of an oarsman.

In order to steer the vehicle by means of -the feet, the aforesaidofoot rest comprises a transverserod rigidly connected by means of rods to the front steering axle which is pivotally connected to the chassis.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, a four-wheel vehicle constructed in .accordance with this invention and severalV embodiments of the sprocket wheel or similar member mounted upon the rear axle through the medium of a reewheel hub or one way clutch.

`In the drawings v Fig. l is a side'view of the vehicle.

Fig. 2 is the corresponding plan view.

Fig. 3V is AVa side view of a sprocket `wheel withI pawl and` ratchetdevice mounted upon the. rear axle.

Fig, 4 isa plan view 'thereol` Figs. and 6 are a side view and a planview, respectively, showing a sprocket wheel with a spring claw-coupling.

Figs 7 and 8 are a side view and a plan view respectively, showing a set of two sprocket wheels adapted for a two-seat vehicle.

Figs. 9 and 10 are a side view and a plan 4the cover removed.

` Fig- 15 is a sectional view ofthe sprocket wheel shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view ot a modification in which the coupling comprises two ball races.

17 is a sectional view of another modification to Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a side view ot a sprocket wheel provided with another type of ratchet device, one cover being removed.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of Fig. 18.`

As shown in Figs. l and 2, the vehicle comprises two longitudinal :trame members 1 upon which isfmounted a Hoor 2. The frame members 1 are connected together to form the chassis of the vehicle, having an elongated shape similar to that of 'a racing skili. The chassis is carried by the axles which are in turn carried by the front and rear wheels.

Underneath the floor are two tubes 4 secured at each end to tie-bars connecting-the side frame members and extending through- I i lings V25.

The other end of the chain 7 is connected to asteel rope 12 passing upon a pulley V11 and extending forwardly underneath the floor. Y Said rope passes through an opening provided in the floor at the front part thereof, round a pulley 16 and then re'arwards for a short length when it is doubled .and provided with two handles 13.

The front axle is pivotally connecte-d to the chassis and it is besides connected by means of bars 15 to a steering bar (larranged transversally underneath the chassis. Besides, said'bar 6 constitutes an abutment for the feet of the ridera enabling him to operate the propelling device in exactly the same manner as an oarsman in propelling a boat. a sliding or rolling scat 8 being preterably provided to facilitate this motion.

When starting, the'rider is seated on the carriage S located as near as possible to the front of the vehicle with his feet resting :upon the ends of the bar 6 and his legs bent. Leaning his body 'forwardly he then grips the handles with both arms extended and pulls the rope 12 rearwardly while pushing with both feet against the toot restV until his legs are entirely `extended and his hands overreach his breast rearwards, During this operation the rope 12 and chain 'l actu ate the sprocket wheel 10, thereby driving the rear aXle and propelling the vehicle torward.

The rider returning then his limbs totheir initial position, the springs 3 which have been compressed return the slide 5 to the forward position thereby permitting the chain to operate the sprocket wheel in the contrary direction, this motion however having no eliect upon the axle as the pawl slides upon the ratchet without actuating same. By repeating this motion in the same manner as an oarsman manages his oars the vehicle will be propelled forwardly.

Figs. 3 to 19 show various types of mechanisms adapted to drive the rear axle.

Figs. 3 and l show a sprocket wheel provided with a ratchet 18 and two pawls 19.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a sprocket-wheel V20 combined with a one-way claw coupling 21 comprising a spring y'22 bearing upon a Sto 23.

igs. 7 and 8 show a double sprocket mechanism- 24rused in connection with a vehicle VVVfor two riders, the two-*sprockets being mounted independently upon the rear Xle through the medium of suitable coup- Figs. 9 and lO'show a pulley 26 having three grooves and provided with ratchet wheel 27and' pawls 28, the central groove being adapted to receive a steel rope 3() Aand the. side Vgrooves -being adapted to f Y receive elastic ropes 29 having the same purpose as the springs 3.

The pulley'26 may comprise only two grooves, one adapted to receive the india- This device allows of obtaining aV or elastic rope while the. other end provided with the two grips y ln Figs. 13 to 17, theaxle actuating mechanism comprises a sprocket a engaged by the chain. This sprocket is mounted upon a ratchet wheel Z) keyed to the wheel axle,

preferably at the centre thereoi7 and actuates said wheel through the medium'offballs ov movable in ball chambers d termed by teeth e and having tapering walls. so l.that when the sprocket wheel rotates in a clockwise direction theV balls are vpushed in the Y wider part of said chambers-and have no action upon the sprocket wheel `while when rotating in the contrary direction the balls become jammed betweenthe tapering-walls o1 said chambers thereby actuating i the f sprocket wheel. A

ln the case ot a sprocket havingia single ball race as in Fig. 15, the ratchet wheel Z1 is provided with teeth e only onone-of its by a cover'f secured to the sprocket a by means oiE screws'g.

In Fig. 16, the device comprisestwo ball races CZ and el and the arrangement 'is' similar on both faces; the ball recesses being closed by means of plates f f. y

ln Figs. 1.7 the teeth e extend Vfrom one `face of the wheel to the other face and the single ball race is closed by .two plates f and f.

In cured by screws h toa hub z' keyed to thev wheel axle by means ofwedges j, 7c.

The sprocket cris provided internally side faces and the ball chambers are closedV i Figs. is, 19, the 'ratehetrwheeib is sey with two recesses Z, m oppositely arranged Y and in which are slida-bly mounted bolts 0 which areV constantly: pressed upon f the ratchet wheel 7) by means of springs a.

The sprocket is held in'position upon the ratchet wheel by means of side cheeks p,

drawings and that various modifications i may bev effected without departing from the spirit of this invention. -Y Y Y Having now described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination, with a vehicle, of a member slidably mounted upon the chassis and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, elastic members adapted to Vpress constantly said slidable member rorwardly, a 'flexible connecting member having one end attached to said slidable member, and being provided with two handles at the other end, said flexible connecting member engaging an actuating member intermediate said ends and-being adapted to impart a rotary motion to fsaid actuating member when moved longitudinally, a one-way coupling between said actuating member and a rear vehicle wheel adapted to Adrive the latter when the flexible connecting member is pulled rearwards against the action of the elastic members.

2. rlhe combination, with a vehicle, of a member slidably mounted upon the chassis.

and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, elastic members adapted to press constantly said slidable member forwardly, a flexible connecting member having one end attached to said slidable member; and being provided with two handles at the other end and said flexible connecting member engaging an actuating member intermediate said ends and being adapted to impart a rota-ry motion to said actuating member when moved longitudinally, a oneway coupling between said actuating member, and a rear vehicle Wheel adapted to drive the latter when the flexible connecting member is pulled rearwards against the action of the elastic members, a seat slidably mounted upon the chassis and a :toot rest .in front .of said seat.

3. The combination, with a vehicle, of a member slidably mounted upon the chassis and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, elastic lmembers adapted to press constantly said slidable member forwardly, a liexible connecting member having one end attached to said slidable member, and being provided with two handles at the other end, said flexible connecting member engaging an actuating member intermediate said ends and being adapted to impart a rotary motion to said actuating member when moved longitudinally, a one-way coupling between said actuating member and a rear vehicle wheel adapted to drive the latter when the flexible connecting member is pulled rearwards against the action of the elastic members, a seat slidably mounted upon the l chassis and a foot-rest in front of said seat,

said foot-rest being connected to the steering axle of the vehicle.

l. The combination, with a vehicle of a rotating member mounted on the driving axle of the vehicle, a `one way coupling between said rotating member and said axle, elongated elastic members extending, when at rest, substantially over the whole length of the vehicle, and a flexible tracting member wound on the one way driving device, having one end connected to said elastic members and being provided with two handles at the other end, said flexible member Vdriving said axle when pulled against the action of said elastic members.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEAN MARIE CONSTANT FALKE. THDPHILE HENRI MAXINHN SALCE. 

